WO2001029725A1 - Procede permettant d'obtenir des informations relatives a un prix de detail en differentes langues a partir d'un ordinateur, par telephone - Google Patents

Procede permettant d'obtenir des informations relatives a un prix de detail en differentes langues a partir d'un ordinateur, par telephone Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001029725A1
WO2001029725A1 PCT/US2000/017537 US0017537W WO0129725A1 WO 2001029725 A1 WO2001029725 A1 WO 2001029725A1 US 0017537 W US0017537 W US 0017537W WO 0129725 A1 WO0129725 A1 WO 0129725A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
telephone
user
program
criteria
input
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/017537
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jan M. Costello
Original Assignee
Costello Jan M
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to AU56385/00A priority Critical patent/AU5638500A/en
Application filed by Costello Jan M filed Critical Costello Jan M
Publication of WO2001029725A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001029725A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
    • G06Q20/20—Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
    • G06Q20/204—Point-of-sale [POS] network systems comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
    • G06Q30/0601—Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
    • G06Q30/0613—Third-party assisted
    • G06Q30/0619—Neutral agent
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M17/10—Account details or usage
    • H04M17/103—Account details or usage using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M17/00—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
    • H04M2017/12—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using calling, telephone credit/debit cards

Definitions

  • U.S. Patent No. 4,595,980 to Innes teaches a data processing system which allows concurrent multilingual use by a plurality of users. Innes provides for data collection prompts and message displays in user-specified languages. However, the invention fails to provide for verbal interaction with the user, via telephone or otherwise.
  • the present invention would benefit someone who is unaware of the differences in price of items at various locations and wants to be sure that a specific location carries the item at the lowest price. For example, the present invention would benefit someone in the middle of a shopping trip who goes to a store only to find that a store no longer carries the item. A person without the invention would be unable to get a computerized comparison of the prices of the desired goods or services. That person would be forced to go to different stores, not knowing the prices beforehand, or even if that store carried the desired items. The problem is more acute for people that do not speak English fluently.
  • a store without the item may direct the shopper to another competing store. However, the shopper is dependent upon the first store's good will. In addition, as described above, the shopper would still have to make a second call to the second store to determine the price there. However, if the second store is closed, a shopper would be unable to get the price comparison, and would have wasted that second call.
  • the program would be available to a shopper regardless of store hours. Also, a store could specifically list itself on the system for a specific good or service to ensure that the public is aware that the store carries the item.
  • This novel invention provides the ability to conveniently comparison shop with a single telephone call. Shoppers unable or unwilling to get to a computer terminal while shopping may use this invention to get the best price possible. This invention would especially be useful to blind people. Furthermore, the invention is useful to shoppers that speak different languages, especially to those that are not familiar with a particular area.
  • the present invention is a device for obtaining retail price information from different stores using a touch-tone telephone.
  • the information is stored in a computer and is available to the user in different languages.
  • the invention is also the computer program for operating the device.
  • the invention is the method of using the device.
  • the device of the present invention is a device for obtaining retail price information in different languages from a computer via telephone.
  • the device includes a central processing unit (CPU) having a memory operatively connected to the CPU, the memory having a program to be executed by the CPU.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • the program in the preferred embodiment of the device is adapted to provide a choice of languages from which a user can communicate with the device via telephone and for receiving the choice of languages selected by the user.
  • the program is menu-driven and responds to touch-tone input on the telephone.
  • the program is menu-driven and responds to a user's voice.
  • the program in the preferred embodiment of the device is further adapted to receive via telephone from the user goods and services criteria and to output via the telephone retail price information for the inputted retail goods and services criteria, the retail price information being outputted in the selected language.
  • the program is further adapted to receive input of location criteria and to output retail price information for the inputted retail goods and services criteria in the selected language for the location criteria inputted.
  • the preferred embodiment also includes a communications port linked to the CPU, a modem linked to the communications port for inputting criteria and outputting retail price information via telephone and means for inputting a retail price information database into the memory.
  • the device further comprises a telephone operator station, wherein the program additionally has means for the user to transfer from the program to the telephone operator station so the user obtains live assistance .
  • the preferred embodiment of the program also includes means for outputting via the telephone guidance for a user to input a language selection criteria for selecting a language for the computer to use to communicate with the user.
  • the program is menu-driven and responds to touch-tone input on the telephone.
  • the program is menu-driven and responds to input from the user's voice.
  • the program in the preferred embodiment further includes means for receiving the language selection criteria via the telephone; means for outputting via the telephone in the selected language guidance for the user to input retail goods and services criteria; means for receiving retail goods and services criteria via the telephone; means for outputting via the telephone in the selected language guidance for a user to input location criteria; means for receiving the location criteria via the telephone; and means for outputting via the telephone in the selected language retail price information corresponding to the user's input of retail goods and services criteria and location criteria.
  • the program includes a telephone operator station, wherein the program additionally has means for the user to transfer from the program to the telephone operator station so the user obtains live assistance.
  • Figure 2 is a flow chart of the relevant portions of the program .
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the inventive device, generally depicted as 10.
  • the device includes a computer 12 which includes a central processing unit (CPU) 14 which performs the processing functions of the computer 12.
  • the computer 12 also includes memory 16 which comprises read-only memory and random access memory.
  • the memory 16 is used to store at least some or all of a computer program 18, which will be described in Fig. 2.
  • the program 18 is entered into the memory 16 by means known in the art by a programmer or systems administrator.
  • the computer 12 also has a communications port 20 which enables the CPU 14 to communicate with the modem 22.
  • the computer 12 also has stored in its memory 16 a database of retail price information regarding goods and services.
  • This database may be input into the memory 16 through the CPU 14 via a means for inputting information 30.
  • Means for inputting the database include keying in information via a computer terminal connected to the computer 12.
  • the database may be input by scanning bar code from the catalogs of stores or by a wholesale upload of information via the modem 22.
  • the program 18 in Fig. 2 initiates when a user 26 contacts the computer 12 in block 100 via telephone 24.
  • the program 18 may require the user 26 to dial a fee based telephone number such as a 900-number for access.
  • access may be allowed via a prepaid calling card access number.
  • a prepaid calling card of a type that may verbally inform a user 26 of how much time is available on the card is known in the art.
  • access may be provided through the means for providing live assistance 28, such as the presentation of a credit or debit card number.
  • the program 18 verbally prompts the user to select a language for communication in block 110.
  • the program 18 in the preferred embodiment is able to respond to touch-tone input. However, it is also possible that the program 18 would be able to respond to spoken input that corresponds to the touch-tone number, such as with an interactive voice response program that understands simple spoken words.
  • the program 18 guides the user 26, in the selected language, to narrow the type of goods or services selected with one or more responsive menus in block 150.
  • the user 26 responds to the menu choices in block 160, until a specific good or service is requested for price comparison.
  • the program 18 outputs retail price information in block 170.
  • the retail price information includes the stores where the specified good or service can be purchased, and the corresponding prices. Optionally, this information may be organized by price, giving the lowest price first.
  • the program 18 may also request location criteria such as a national region, state, zip code or area code. Location criteria would allow the list output at 170 to be shorter, and would allow the user 26 to obtain convenient locations to find the selected items, while still obtaining the lowest price.
  • the location criteria may be requested and input at any time the user 26 is in contact with the program 18 after the language criteria has been input .
  • the program 18 may inquire whether the user 26 wishes to find retail price information on another good or service at block 180. The program would then recycle to block 130, to a point where the user makes the initial narrowing of the selected good or service. The program would thereby continue to communicate with the user 26 in the selected language.
  • the program 18 may optionally permit the user 26 to exit the program 18 and connect with means for providing live assistance 28. Assistance may be in the form of a live operator at a station with access to the program 18. The operator may give assistance to the user 26 in the selected language .
  • the present invention satisfies a long felt need to provide a device which will provide retail price information in a selected language from a computer via telephone, thereby providing valuable cost and time savings to a shopper, providing the blind with a convenient method for comparison shopping, and providing a retailer with a method of advertising a specific good or service on a system designed for speakers of the selected language.
  • the invention is clearly new and useful. Moreover, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in this art at the time it was made, in view of the prior art considered as a whole as required by law.

Landscapes

  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
  • Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif (10) et un procédé (18) permettant d'obtenir des informations relatives à un prix de détail dans différents magasins à l'aide d'un téléphone (24) à touches. Les informations mises en mémoire dans un ordinateur (12) sont accessibles à l'utilisateur (26) en différentes langues. Ces informations sont collectées et enregistrées dans l'ordinateur (12). Un utilisateur (26) sollicitant des informations relatives à un prix de détail contacte l'ordinateur (12), sélectionne la langue devant être utilisée (120), et sélectionne les articles (130, 140, 150, 160) à partir des messages parlés dans la langue sélectionnée. Les informations relatives aux prix de détail de l'article sélectionné sont ensuite fournies par téléphone (24) à l'utilisateur (26) dans la langue sélectionnée.
PCT/US2000/017537 1999-10-18 2000-06-26 Procede permettant d'obtenir des informations relatives a un prix de detail en differentes langues a partir d'un ordinateur, par telephone WO2001029725A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU56385/00A AU5638500A (en) 1999-10-18 1999-08-26 Obtaining retail price information from a computer via telephone in different languages

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/419,541 US6301566B1 (en) 1999-10-18 1999-10-18 Device and method for obtaining retail price information in different languages from a computer via telephone
US09/419,541 1999-10-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001029725A1 true WO2001029725A1 (fr) 2001-04-26

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PCT/US2000/017537 WO2001029725A1 (fr) 1999-10-18 2000-06-26 Procede permettant d'obtenir des informations relatives a un prix de detail en differentes langues a partir d'un ordinateur, par telephone

Country Status (3)

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US (1) US6301566B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU5638500A (fr)
WO (1) WO2001029725A1 (fr)

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US20100179859A1 (en) * 2000-02-10 2010-07-15 Davis Bruce L Method and System for Facilitating On-Line Shopping
US7376415B2 (en) * 2002-07-12 2008-05-20 Language Line Services, Inc. System and method for offering portable language interpretation services
RU2254611C2 (ru) * 2003-03-13 2005-06-20 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Мобилити" Способ предоставления пользователям мобильных устройств электронной связи актуальной коммерческой информации на альтернативной основе (варианты) и информационная система для его осуществления (варианты)
US7894596B2 (en) * 2005-09-13 2011-02-22 Language Line Services, Inc. Systems and methods for providing language interpretation
US8023626B2 (en) * 2005-09-13 2011-09-20 Language Line Services, Inc. System and method for providing language interpretation
US7792276B2 (en) * 2005-09-13 2010-09-07 Language Line Services, Inc. Language interpretation call transferring in a telecommunications network
US20070239625A1 (en) * 2006-04-05 2007-10-11 Language Line Services, Inc. System and method for providing access to language interpretation
US7593523B2 (en) * 2006-04-24 2009-09-22 Language Line Services, Inc. System and method for providing incoming call distribution
US7773738B2 (en) * 2006-09-22 2010-08-10 Language Line Services, Inc. Systems and methods for providing relayed language interpretation

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US6301566B1 (en) 2001-10-09
AU5638500A (en) 2001-04-30

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